Cricket NSW to put shake up behind them

NSW are desperate to put a tumultuous two-month period behind them and forge ahead in their bid for a first Sheffield Shield title in five years.

Since their most recent Shield clash - a three-wicket win over Queensland in November - the Blues have sacked their coach Anthony Stuart and had chief executive David Gilbert resign.

It was a drastic shake-up but - ahead of their Shield clash with last-placed Western Australia at Blacktown, starting on Thursday - players said the upheaval had done nothing to deter them from their goal of bringing some silverware to Sydney.

Former Test paceman Trent Copeland, returning from a freak ankle injury, said the promotion of Chandika Hathurusingha from assistant coach as Stuart's replacement had softened the blow to players.

And the 26-year-old said the best way for players to change the perception that Cricket NSW is in disarray is to win - a goal the Blues believe is attainable in the Shield, where they are seven points out of first place with a game in hand.

"It's a good opportunity for us no doubt, but it doesn't change anything for us," Copeland said on Wednesday.

"Stuff off the field and the perception of the place around here doesn't change the actual reality - the fact that everything is fine here and the players are doing their bit and hopefully working towards winning some competition.

"The best thing for us that we can do is get behind the coach and the support staff ... and do our bit I suppose to put everything right.

"But like I said, it doesn't change anything for us. They were our goals from the outset of the season.

"Things have happened off the field but that's out of our control.

"With the women the other day winning the double, hopefully we can win a competition this year and people can't help but say 'Cricket NSW is in a good state'."

Middle-order batsman Ben Rohrer will make his first Shield appearance for the Blues this summer, after playing a starring role in the Melbourne Renegades' successful Big Bash season.

The 31-year-old, who finished as the competition's fifth-highest runscorer with 295, was on the cusp of an Australian T20 call-up and earned praise as a Michael Bevan clone from Mark and Steve Waugh.

"To hear guys I've looked up to growing up and idolised (and) have them say that about me is fantastic," Rohrer said.

"It's given me a lot of confidence going forward too."

NSW will be without allrounder Shane Watson, who will continue his comeback from a calf injury in grade cricket with Sutherland this weekend, but Brad Haddin looks likely to take his place in the team.

The wicketkeeper strained his hamstring while playing for Australia a fortnight ago and will have a fitness test to ensure his availability, but NSW officials are confident he's recovered sufficiently.

Blues allrounder Moises Henriques will fly back on the morning of the clash after completing his commitments with the Australian one-day side.